Health Equity Track
Health Equity
Health equity is a fundamental pillar in promoting the wellbeing of youth globally. Health equity means ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best health regardless of their race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language or other factors. Despite global progress to achieve health equity, barriers affecting multiple aspects of young people’s lives persist. In turn, these barriers worsen the health and wellbeing of young people. This track will explore how a range of key and emerging issues affect the health and wellbeing of young people and begin to offer solutions to addressing these barriers.
Panel: Intersectional Stigma and Health
(Panel session 4B, Windflower room. On-site access only.)
Combating stigma is essential for achieving heath equity. This session will explore how the convergence of multiple stigmatized identities and health conditions affect young people’s physical and mental health and their access and use of healthcare services. Globally, young people experience discrimination based on various aspects of their identity, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, and health conditions, such as HIV, mental health, or substance use. The session aims to bring researchers and practitioners across multiple disciplines to share and discuss ways to reduce stigma across settings and different identities and health conditions.
Dr. Kemesha Gabbidon, Presenter
Kemesha Gabbidon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida. Her scholarly interests include youth sexual health and health equity. Her research is theoretically grounded and applies an intersectional lens to investigating socio-political, cultural, and psychosocial influences on the health of the individual and their community. Dr. Gabbidon has published on pediatric HIV, HIV stigma, and culture and sexuality. Her current research is aimed at investigating intersectional stigma and how it affects HIV-related outcomes in Tampa Bay by applying participatory qualitative methods. Dr. Gabbidon also teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Psychology including Cultural Competence, Program Evaluation, and Health Psychology.
Dr. Emilia Ismael-Simental, Presenter
Emilia Ismael-Simental, PhD. is the Development & Strategic Partnerships Director for El Centro Hispano (ECH) in North Carolina. She has a doctoral degree in Cultural Studies and was an associate professor and researcher in Mexico for over fifteen years before moving to North Carolina and joining El Centro Hispano. Her work at ECH is committed to improving health outcomes and strengthening a culture of civic participation in the Hispanic community of North Carolina. She joined El Centro Hispano in 2022 as the Manager for Civic & Community Participation where she led outreach and participation projects including an LGBTQ+ program with a significant health and HIV prevention component, the development of the aging initiative Hispanos en Plenitud and a women’s initiative, among other participative projects. As the Development & Strategic Partnerships director her current focus is on cultivating strong and trusted relationships that further El Centro Hispano’s mission and developing strategies that will impact the wellbeing of underserved communities. Throughout her time at El Centro she has successfully partnered with other institutions and agencies, such as UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, Duke Medicine, WakeMed and county level Health departments to conduct research as well as offer direct services and access to care for the Hispanic community in the Triangle area. Her academic research has always explored the intersection of culture, policy, diversity and community, embracing complex questions about policy, citizenship and community development.
Mrs. Rubi Morales
Rubi Morales is Manager of the Community Health Department at El Centro Hispano. Her job is to serve and advocate for the community’s health needs, she is passionate about providing quality healthcare resources and support services to those in need. She is also committed to increasing access to care by working with local partners and implementing programs that promote health equity among all members of the diverse community. She is originally from Veracruz, Mexico. She moved to North Carolina when she was a teenager. As an immigrant, she knows firsthand the barriers the community faces when they move to a new country. She started at El Centro Hispano in 2020 as a Community Health Worker (Promotora de Salud) educating the community about Covid-19 and later about preventing cardiovascular diseases
Mr. Arnaud Niyongabo
Arnaud Niyongabo is the Country Director for Right to Play Burundi. He has 15 years’ experience working in East Africa, designing and implementing programs in the development sector with a particular focus on livelihood and education. He has been with Right To Play for 2 years as a Country Director for Burundi where he is currently overseeing programs that impact the psychosocial wellbeing and learning outcomes of thousands of children and youth in Burundi.
Dr. William Hall, Moderator
Will Hall is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). After receiving his Ph.D. in Social Work from UNC in 2015, he completed a NIMH-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health Services Research through a collaborative program between the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University. Dr. Hall’s research is primarily focused on understanding mental health disparities facing LGBTQ+ young people (e.g., depression and suicidality), as well as developing and evaluating interventions that address these problems. He is interested in interventions at multiple socio-ecological levels, such as mental health care with LGBTQ+ clients, cultural competency of mental health service providers, school-based interventions to improve the school climate, and policy interventions to protect the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. Dr. Hall’s research has been informed by his clinical practice and advocacy work with the LGBTQ+ community.
Panel: Young People and HIV
(Panel session 1C, Bellflower room. On-site access only.)
The intersection of youth, HIV, and economic security is a critical and complex issue that demands focused attention. Young people living with or at risk of HIV often face significant economic challenges, including limited access to education, employment, and healthcare. These barriers can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and vulnerability, making it harder for them to access the resources needed to manage their health and secure their future. Moreover, the stigma associated with HIV can lead to discrimination, further marginalizing these youth from economic opportunities. Addressing this intersection requires comprehensive strategies that integrate health services, economic empowerment, and social support to ensure that young people affected by HIV can lead healthy, productive lives.
Lisette Irarrázabal Vargas, Presenter
Lisette Irarrázabal Vargas is a nurse-midwife from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2010), Master in Nursing from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2008), PhD in Public Health from the University of Illinois, United States (2015), diploma in bioethics (2008) and university teaching (2018), both from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Her line of research is Chronic Health Conditions. She has been awarded five research projects, two with national funding (one as principal investigator), two with funding from the UC (principal investigator) and one with funding from the School of Nursing (co-investigator). She is the author of seven scientific publications indexed in ISI/Scopus (four as main author)
Dr. Diane Santa Maria, Presenter
Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, RN, ACRN, FSAHM, FAAN is dean and professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Cizik School of Nursing. She has expertise in public health nursing, adolescent health, HIV/STI prevention, intervention development, RCTs, mobile technology, and predictive modeling. She is currently leading two NIH-funded R01 RCTs testing the efficacy of an ecological momentary intervention (EMI) and an EMI-enhanced nurse case management HIV prevention and care coordination intervention among youth 16-25 experiencing homelessness. She just completed two studies looking at PrEP adherence among youth and assessing the impact of COVID-19, uptake of vaccine, and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. She is also leading an NIH-funded R34 study to co-adapt a mindfulness intervention to address emotion regulation, stress management, and impulse control among sheltered youth. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from The Ohio State University, her master’s degree in Public Health Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, and DrPH at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. She is a former Visiting Professor at the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies.
Dr. Allysha Maragh Bass, Presenter
Allysha C. Maragh-Bass, Ph.D. is a Scientist II at FHI 360. She is a Social/Behavioral Scientist and former Scholar with the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN). Dr. Maragh-Bass has nearly 20 years of research expertise in HIV/AIDS, substance use, qualitative, and quantitative methods in clinical and community-based research and programs. She has worked in health care settings from primary care to surgery and in communities minoritized by race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability status. With grounding in social determinants, her interest is in addressing health inequities with multidisciplinary, evidence-based approaches and she has led numerous NIH- and CDC-funded studies. Since late 2019, Dr. Maragh-Bass began leading both domestic and international efforts in decolonization and global equity in development at FHI 360, including trainings with students, internal staff, and technical assistance with government and private funding organizations. She is also a 2021 Social Lab and Systems Innovator, as awarded by the Reimagination of the INGO and Global Civil Society (RINGO) Project. In addition to her Scientist II role, Dr. Maragh-Bass is also a highly experienced lecturer and educator, who has held adjunct faculty positions for over a decade. She is currently adjunct faculty in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the George Washington Milken Institute of Public Health, and an Adjunct Professor at the Duke Global Health Institute.
Dr. Natalia Villegas, Moderator
Natalia Villegas, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, FAAN Natalia Villegas is a bilingual nurse, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She completed her PhD in nursing and a postdoctoral fellowship in health disparities at the University of Miami. Additionally, she is a registered nurse and certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). Currently, she works as an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing. Dr. Villegas is a nurse midwife and has worked as a clinical nurse and research assistant in various settings. Her research interests lie in women’s health, STI and HIV prevention, and the use of technology for prevention. She has established a national and international reputation as a leader in HIV prevention in Latinos. Since becoming a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Miami (UM) School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) in 2017 and an Associate Professor at UNC-CH SON in 2020, she has made significant contributions to the growing literature on HIV prevention. She is currently funded to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of Infección de Amor, an intervention consisting of a telenovela to reduce HIV risk in Latinas.
Panel: Adolescent Wellness
(Panel session 2A, Redbud room. On-site and remote access.)
Adolescent wellness can include many aspects of a young person’s life, including their social, physical, emotional, cognitive and intellectual development. Therefore, adolescent wellness profoundly impacts young people’s future health, productivity, and overall quality of life. As a foundation for lifelong health and wellness, investment in adolescent wellness must ensure wellness for all adolescents, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, or location. Adolescent wellness transcends individual health—it shapes societies and defines our collective future. This session will feature different interventions in adolescent wellness, with a shared goal of health and social equity.
Dr. Judith Borja, Presenter
Judith Borja is a Consultant-Investigator and former Director of the USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc., of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. She is among the Lead Investigators of the ongoing Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child. Her research expertise spans health, nutrition and developmental outcomes throughout the life course: from pregnancy, infancy, adolescence to aging. She has a PhD in Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Monica Mutesa, Presenter
Monica Mutesa‘s work across the national and global levels, and her thematic expertise on HIV/AIDs, gender, medicines and health systems offer a breadth of knowledge and experience to her work. She has participated in a number of health sector processes in Zambia. Her policy advocacy work at PATH among other things focused on policy change for community-based distribution of Injectable Family planning, Health Budget advocacy, Vaccine Introduction and the BID Initiative Project. Her work on the Depo Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (DMPA) Subcutaneous Access Collaborative Project has included collaboration with projects such as the Skillz project under Grassroots Soccer, an adolescent health organization that uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize young people to live healthier lives and be agents for change in their communities. She has a Master of Science degree project management from Cavendish University and a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Zambia and is currently studying for her PhD in public Health with UNICAF University.
Dr. Winnie Luseno
Winnie Luseno is a Senior Research Scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) Chapel Hill Center, with a distinguished career focused on improving public health outcomes for marginalized and underserved populations. She earned her PhD in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health. With a multidisciplinary expertise that spans public health, applied economics, and bioethics, Dr. Luseno employs social and behavioral sciences to investigate complex health behaviors and develop interventions to improve outcomes. Her research addresses critical global health issues, including HIV prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive health, substance use, domestic violence, and ethical considerations in research, contributing to advancements in public health policy and practice.
Dr. Mary Cate Komoski, Presenter
Mary Cate Komoski is an educational psychology researcher exploring how adolescents think about trauma. Her current work focuses on youth living along the U.S.-Mexico border. These studies have broad implications, including in applying trauma-informed frameworks to schools.
Dr. Lisa De Saxe Zerden, Moderator
Lisa de Saxe Zerden is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. She serves as the School’s Interprofessional Education (IPE) Director and is a Research Fellow with the Carolina Health Workforce Research Center at the Sheps Center for Health Services Research. She is currently the Deputy Director for the UNC-Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center, one of nine federally funded workforce research centers around the country. Dr. Zerden is the PI for several HRSA and SAMHSA funded grants focused on integrated behavioral health, workforce development and research, and substance use curricula. She served as the School of Social Work’s Senior Associate Dean for nearly seven years and teaches in the community, management and policy concentration. Dr. Zerden received her Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work and her MSW from the University of California at Los Angeles. Her research interests focus on the social drivers of health, including disparities that exacerbate drug use and behavioral health conditions, and workforce. Her work explores inequitable access to treatment and prevention, workforce, and policies to support these initiatives and improve health. She has published close to 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, numerous book chapters, and presented her work nationally and internationally.